Undertale

There isn't really much I can say which hasn't already been said. This game is an outstanding RPG, it takes the old RPG formula of kill everything in sight and flips it on its head. Every monster, every boss, every miniscule encounter can be spared, and left alive. The game's story changes based off of what monsters you kill, what bosses you kill, and even how you interact with the characters. This game will surprise you, and even shock you with how it tells its story and what it does to change things up (Assuming things weren't spoiled for you already). The game's dialogue is very lighthearted, much like the Mother series. The soundtrack is top notch and the writing is brilliant. Is there any catch you may wonder? Well, yes. For people who don't like RPGs, skip this, since this still mostly follows the RPG formula. For those who don't like pixel art, I'd leave this be, since that is what 99% of this game's graphics are. In all honesty, you can see whether you'd like the game or not by playing the demo, which is found at http://undertale.com/demo.htm . Another thing I would like to warn people about is the extreme hype which follows this game everywhere. If you are expecting the best game ever due to the hype, I'll stop you right there, the lower your expectations, the better. I wouldn't have enjoyed this nearly as much if I wouldn't have played it the day it came out, since the fans have a tendency to over hype it. Just go in with average expectations, and you will love this game. An odd (and ironic) way to describe this game is like adopting a dog for a week. This dog is sweet, fun, and lighthearted. After the week is over, it's gone, but you will remember that dog for years to come.

I've played a LOT of games. Good ones, bad ones, and everything in between. Very rarely do I get a game that surprises me like Undertale has. I initially wrote it off for it's pixel graphics, but after being convinced to give it a shot, I found an amazing and subversive game. The gameplay is a mix between standard top-down RPGs and bullet hell shooters. The battle system is unique in that it allows you several options besides fighting to end the fight. This nonviolence system is not just a gimmick, but an integral feature of the game, and can completely change the game depending on your choices. The music is a fantastic example of chiptune done right, which is to be expected from Toby Fox. However, it is the writing where this game shines. The characters are vibrant and memorable, live or die, and I found myself driven forward in order to find out more about them (and there is quite a bit to find out, both in plain sight and deeply hidden). Though the fanbase can be a bit rabid at times (in the words of Totalbiscuit "You're acting like it's the second coming of Jesus, and he brought you cookies and IPhones"), this game is fantastic in its own right. This game is worthy of your purchase, your time, and multiple playthroughs.

I just finished the game with a good end. I'm really over satisfied. That game does what so few does : what you do as a player is somewhat what you do as a person. To be totally honest, I don't think I did the game entirely, since I chose to be "nice" entirely (people who played the game will understand). I could have reset and played it again with different choices, but like Flowey said, it's not what I played for. I did what I felt right and I'm pleased to the very end that this game didn't disappoint me. The only thing that keeps making me feel strange is that, even if I was a little bit spoiled, the game gave me all the clues to chose the right path, from the first dialogues. Am I a carebear ? May be. But this game really makes me feel good and I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the game if I played it differently. I would have feel so bad it would have depressed me so hard I couldn't bear. Finally, I'm really glad I played that game and I guess I will remember it a very long time.

Undertale is a game that puts a memorable experience before refined gameplay, and that's not a bad thing. The gameplay is not bad by any means, but parts of it are forgettable and unsatisfying. What it does do well is combat, which is done in a mixture of bullet-hell and JRPG turn-based combat. Combat is challenging but fair, and it rarely gets dull. Each enemy attack is unique, and their dialogue and personalities are charming. You can either choose to kill enemies, or act in certain ways to spare them, and each path has it's pros and cons. Outside of combat there are puzzles, and they are either too easy, or failure to fulfill certain time-sensitive puzzles have no consequence due to the story, which can get annoying. The strongest aspect of this game is it's story, which is the most unique and creative that I have seen in a video game in years. You will fall in love with enemies and major characters alike, and the game will use your manipulation of the save system against you. I won't go into more detail because it is best to experience the game as blind as possible, just the know that the story is great. Overall, this is game will be one of the most memorable gaming experiences you will have ever have. However, this game is not for everyone, as many people do not like JRPG combat or shoot-em-up style games, and others might be turned off by the general lack of activity outside of combat. But if you can enjoy the gameplay for what it is, I can assure you will not regret playing Undertale.

I wasn't too impressed by undertale when I first played the demo. The whole "we're giving you a choice, but it only really counts if you're all good or all bad" system somewhat irritated me, the puzzles were all rather simple and ended up being mostly frustrating because of the random encounters getting in the way and the twist at the end (the demo ends right after you leave the ruins) ended up being very frustrating because the game builds up the impression that it's forcing you to do something, and the "correct solution" felt rather obtuse and poorly foreshadowed. And yet, when a friend almost begged me to give it another shot, it all sort of clicked. Undertale is a game that puts you in situations where everything video games taught you before no longer applies. All those enemies that get in your way are annoying, sure, but don't they deserve to live just as much as the other main characters? If you kill someone and you regret what you've done, you're free to carry on, but what if things could have turned out someother way? When facing a monster that doesn't want to surrender, will you press on and keep trying to do what you know is right, no matter how many times that ends up getting you kiled or will you just give up and murder your way out? The whole "kill everyone or spare everyone" concept shouldn't actually be taken at face value, it's more of a "Do you want battles to play out more like a traditional JRPG or like a puzzle game?". But besides the fact that it deconstructs everything you're used to see in video games, is it any good on its own? The story, although the opening is a bit slow (and since that's all you see in the demo, it's hard to get invested by the time it's over), is absolutely fantastic. It manages to remain entertaining all the way through, the pacing is top notch and it will probably make you tear up at times. The gameplay is a bit more of an acquired taste, but you'll probably want seconds by the time you're done with it.